Walmer's double hopes dashed

11:43am Saturday 28th June 2008

THE quarter-finals of the Howarth Cup provided some close results with dark horses Walmer losing 72-64 to holders Markland Hill A who dropped just two games.

Perhaps if Walmer had been at full strength they may have had enough in their armoury to cause an upset.

In the semi-finals, Markland Hill A were beaten 73-70 by Hawkshaw C.

Markland Hill looked slightly weakened, but nothing should be taken away from Hawkshaw whose girls, Pomfret and Chicken, thrashed Markland Hill's Clark and Gannon 6-4.

In the other semi-final, which was also close, David Lloyd ran out 72-70 winners against St Josephs B.

The final will take place at Bradshaw next Saturday at 9.30am.

Walmer are going well elsewhere, leading Division Six after recent victories over Lostock D and Eagley B. The latter narrowly lost their cup quarter-final by one game to Hawkshaw C.

St Josephs' victory over Markland Hill B was also a close-run affair which ended 72-70.

After what appears to have been a difficult last year or so, it is good to see St Josephs progressing in the cup, and their A team gained a creditable tie in Division Two with Lostock B.

In the other quarter-final, David Lloyd (Bolton) confounded the handicapping with an easy win over Lostock A.

The task of overturning the holders in the next round goes to Hawkshaw C.

Bradshaw A beat Hawkshaw C 7.5-4.5 in Division Three where the title race is hotting up.

These two teams are in contention along with Eagley A and Markland Hill B.

Bradshaw seem to have got over their early-season selection problems, which were caused by the overlapping of the tennis and football seasons.

They produced an impressive performance in their latest victory in which they dominated the mixed sets 3-1, and had the better of the girls doubles.

The spoils were shared in the boys' sets with the Bradshaw pair of Tom Winstanley and Ben Pearson in dominant form as they won both their sets.

Winstanley is capable of some excellent shot-making with the odd howler thrown in, while partner Pearson is developing nicely as a calm, steady and consistent player with some effective strokes.

The next two or three games will determine Bradshaw's status next year, but on this evidence they have a good chance of promotion.

At the top of the league, Tyldesley A have their noses in front after recent results, with Holcombe Brook A suffering a narrow 7-5 defeat at Markland Hill A.

Holcombe Brook bounced back a week later to beat their neighbours, Hawkshaw A, 7-5.

But Tyldesley are now firm favourites to clinch another Division One title.

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